Article (Scientific journals)
Concurrent Observations Of Magnetic Reconnection From Cluster, IMAGE and SuperDARN: A Comparison Of Reconnection Rates And Energy Conversion
Matar, Jessy; Hubert, Benoît; Yao, Zhonghua et al.
2020In Journal of Geophysical Research. Space Physics, 125 (4)
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Keywords :
Aurora; Dissipation; Energy; Magnetic Reconnection; Power; Reconnection Rates
Abstract :
[en] Auroral emissions reflect energy dissipation in the atmosphere, while the energy mostly originates from the magnetospheric dynamics of the planet. In the Earth's magnetosphere, the interaction between the solar wind and the terrestrial magnetic field produces magnetic reconnection ultimately causing the appearance of auroras in the polar regions. In this study, we revisit two reconnection events previously identified using ESA Cluster observations during conditions of moderate geomagnetic activity, in the magnetotail. We compare these in situ detections with simultaneous global auroral images from the NASA-IMAGE satellite and ionospheric convection measurements from SuperDARN. We show for the first time a direct correspondence between the electric voltage estimated at ionospheric altitude and the reconnection rate at the reconnection site. We compute the total auroral precipitation power and compare it to the energy released from the reconnection site. We deduce that the precipitated electron power of the aurora and the electron energy deposition rate from the reconnection site are of the same order of magnitude, which means that the thermal energy released by reconnection is primarily transferred to the ionosphere and contributes to the auroral activity. ©2020. American Geophysical Union. All Rights Reserved.
Disciplines :
Space science, astronomy & astrophysics
Earth sciences & physical geography
Author, co-author :
Matar, Jessy ;  Université de Liège - ULiège > Département d'astrophys., géophysique et océanographie (AGO) > Labo de physique atmosphérique et planétaire (LPAP)
Hubert, Benoît  ;  Université de Liège - ULiège > Département d'astrophys., géophysique et océanographie (AGO) > Labo de physique atmosphérique et planétaire (LPAP)
Yao, Zhonghua ;  Université de Liège - ULiège > Département d'astrophys., géophysique et océanographie (AGO) > Labo de physique atmosphérique et planétaire (LPAP)
Guo, Ruilong ;  Université de Liège - ULiège > Département d'astrophys., géophysique et océanographie (AGO) > Labo de physique atmosphérique et planétaire (LPAP)
Cowley, Stanley W.H.;  Radio and Space Plasma Physics Group, Department of Physics and Astronomy, University of Leicester, Leicester, United Kingdom
Milan, Stephen E.;  Radio and Space Plasma Physics Group, Department of Physics and Astronomy, University of Leicester, Leicester, United Kingdom
Gurgiolo, Chris;  Bitterroot Basic Research, Hamilton, MT, United States
Language :
English
Title :
Concurrent Observations Of Magnetic Reconnection From Cluster, IMAGE and SuperDARN: A Comparison Of Reconnection Rates And Energy Conversion
Publication date :
2020
Journal title :
Journal of Geophysical Research. Space Physics
ISSN :
2169-9380
eISSN :
2169-9402
Publisher :
Blackwell Publishing Ltd
Volume :
125
Issue :
4
Peer reviewed :
Peer Reviewed verified by ORBi
Funders :
BELSPO - Politique scientifique fédérale [BE]
F.R.S.-FNRS - Fonds de la Recherche Scientifique [BE]
SFTC - Science and Technology Facilities Council [GB]
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